Flicka

Germany-Switzerland-Italy

Iv just arrived in a hot and humid Italy. Im not going to complain, Im going to be in Sweden next week and have a feeling the weather wont be like this. The drive here from Switzerland is beautiful! The mountains, lakes, fields.. its a really pretty nature. Even the cows here is prettier than in Sweden! I dont know what it is but they just look happier, I would be happy too if I could eat grass all day in a sunny Switzerland. Iv been in Zurich and Luzern in Swiz, both really nice cities, unfortunalty the batteries in my camera died so I couldnt take any pictures..but Im planning on coming back! I drove from Luzern to Valdobbiadene in Italy today, a drive that is supposed to take 5 houts but it didnt.. it took a lot longer, the traffic in Switzerland was really bad and just a bit after Milan there was a truck that had caught on fire so we were standing still for another 40 minutes or so.. it took forever... and it was sunny and 35 degrees outside, I didnt want to sit in a car!!

But now Im finally here, its little Valdobbiadene, a real small town right where the mountains starts, its beautiful. I will just be here until Friday morning, then Ill start to drive to Sweden, about 1 800 km... a loooong drive through Italy, Austria and all of Germany. I will drive up to Bremen and stay there overnight and then continue Saturday.. if I even make it up to Bremen before its in the middle of the night... o well.. Im going to spend some time here in Valdo before I have to worry about that!

Luuubeck

Im back in Germany, in Lubeck. Its my first time have here and Iv only heard good things about this city so Im really excited to see it. The hotel Im staying at is invaded by scandinavians! There is norweigans, swedes and finns everywhere, If I had vaccation now I would go a bit further south than to Lubeck.. its just a 4 hour drive away from Sweden. Lubeck dont look very big on a map, it shouldnt take too long to go through the city, hopefully Im done here in a decent time so that I can drive down to Luneburg and stay at KDs place over night. The north of Germany is so different from the south, its like two different countries. Its not just the nature that looks different, but the food, the way they talk, the way they dress... everything is different. Im not sure which part I like the best yet, Iv lived for 2 years in the south but the north is a lot like scandinavia so I feel at home here too... Up here everyone wants to look and be the same, they drive the same kind of car have the same kind of dogs, just like in most cities in Sweden.

NRHA Breeders Derby in Kreuth

I just got back to Sweden last night after spending 5 amazing days at the german breeders derby. Its just a big horse show for 5 and 6 year old and usually there is about 60 something entries in the Open and Non Pro Derby classes, one go round and 15 goes to a final. Its a big event with a lot of prestige and money to win. Im planning on getting my mare ready for next years Derby :-) If she will be good enough for a final I will for sure go down there with her!

I went to this Derby to spend time with friends, a couple of friends flew in from Sweden and then ofcourse there was a lot of german friends there. The good thing about not showing is that you can spend time with people you wouldnt have time for otherwise, such as the announcer, photographers and you can speak to the judges which you are not aloud to if you show.

Kreuth is really in the middle of nowhere, eastern bavaria, almost in chec republic, but somehow there is always a lot of spectators coming. There is no promotion about the show, its hard to get there and the hotel is always fully booked..its a wonder than anyone shows up at all. But there is something special about a hobby or interest that brings so many different people together, you meet people that you would never meet in "real" life and the one thing you share with them is the love for the reining horse - a beautiful and athletic equine.

"one of the hallmarks of reining is camaraderie between exhibitors. Yes, you are all out there to compete against one another, but asking for help is just a smile and a question away. Reiners are famous for their fellowship." from the book World Class Reining.

Show photographer Dirk and me

Me, Monica and Ulf, the 3 swedes..